Group captain Neogi was tense ,as any self respecting air force officer will be when standing next to air officer commanding in chief eastern air command standing next to him was getting directly briefed on the mission status .It was as if he was directly responsible for all the men and machine in eastern command area at this point of time .Air vice marshal Chopra a Mi 35 pilot was super particular about logistics and timing and now his rapid fire questions were difficult to respond to ,to say the least The verbal confirmations started coming in from all over command area simultaneously .Everyone knew when AOC in C asks questions the answers would better be quick in coming

- sir the mirages are fuelled and armed –ready to roll on command –tezpur reporting- the phalcon have just finished refueling and crew change expected to be completed in 15 minutes –jorhat - The sukhois are rolling right now –shall meet up with the Mirages in 20 minutes over grid sector zulu zulu- Akash missile system activated in Mohanbari ,Tezpur,Jorhat and Bagdogra - Chabua ready for emergency recovery of any aircraft –medical team on standby- Search and rescue helos ready in all bases - Mig 27s being fuelled now –shall be ready in 30 minutes - Sir we have active data link going with all the primary bases and shall do so with the phalcon and lead suhois once in air

Neogi turned and very carefully made the final commitment-sir we should be able to launch the first strike and escort package in 30 minutes The air vice marshal was still not impressed as he looked at the large tactical display .What if the PLAAF puts up a more than expected resistance .The mirage pilots may need more ready escorts in air till they release their heavy payloads .

-Neogi –what we have in reserve at Mohanbari -sir a squadron of yet to be upgraded Mig 29s oil field protection - get them ready and in air over Digboi area .Once our strike package is discovered they may hit hard at the refinery and oil fields in Digboi and Duliajaan .Also activate fulair defense around Noonmati refinery including the Igla teams -Right sir –doing that right now -once you get the confirmation –you may pass on the mission authentication codes to individual air bases and flight leads .

Squadron leader Jamwal did not like waiting and that too in the dark of night inside the uncomfortable confines of a flanker. He was also tired after a long flight and an intense air battle he fought few days back.But the AOC wanted some one experienced to lead the escort flight into Tibet with a dense air defense environment around Lhasa so Jamwal was back on a combat mission .

He was loaded up with half a dozen anti radiation missiles and equal number of R-77ER s .The wing tip pylons carried 4 R-73 s in double rail launchers making a total of sixteen missiles for the mission .Weight wise it was still ok but he was not sure how it will affect his high speed agility even with computer and thrust vectoring support .

Reports indicated 4 JF 17 in CAP along line of actual control ,which will have to be taken out quickly and then he would expect at least that many su-30 MKM around the Tibetian capital but that confirmation will come only when the A 50 Bariev Phalcon starts transmitting .

In the distance he could see the Mi 17 s and An 32 S being loaded up for morning air drop missions. Though the land conflict still has not broken up along the craggy border, it can any time.

Behind him his WSO finished loading the navigation and target data on known radar and missile launch sites .The radio crackled to life

If you thought the main duty of the Indian Air Force is to fly fighter jets, think again. For in the Eastern Air Command every day, 365 days a year, the IAF is busy carrying out a wide range of tasks from the vital air logistics operations in support of both the army and the civilian population in the most inaccessible areas of Arunachal Pradesh to training newly-inducted pilots to fly the fighters.

As then Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the EAC, Air Marshal Manek Madon said, "Whether flying or preparing for war, the Eastern Air Command remains committed in its pursuit of excellence."

The fleet of tactical medium lift AN-32 aircraft, known as the workhorse, has to be constantly engaged in air logistic operations in support of forward troops and tribal population in the northeast. The highly skilled pilots either drop supplies or land at makeshift airstrips that lack even basic amenities like navigational aids required for landing.

Air Commodore Parvesh Kumar said, "The Advanced Landing Grounds are semi-prepared surfaces, with bare minimum navigational facilities. This tests the pilots' skills to the utmost since the conditions are adverse in all respects."

For example, against a normal length of 10,000 feet at a standard runaway at any national airport, all that an AN-32 pilot gets is 3,600 feet. At 75 feet, the width is also half of the standard runway. Moreover, there is no clear sighting of the landing strip till the very last moment since most ALGs are located between high mountains that are often shrouded in clouds. At Vijainagar for instance, the pilots come through two high mountains and get barely two minutes in which to land and bring the aircraft loaded with heavy cargo to halt.

The heavy-duty MI-17 choppers (right), carry out three vital operations. One, air-drop essentials at various strategically located DZs (dropping zones); two, airlift troops and civilians to areas where there are no roads; and three, carry heavy equipment like bulldozers and trucks to inaccessible areas. In fact, in an innovation that requires high degree of skill and daring.

For instance, MI-17 pilots have been carrying bulldozers (broken into six pieces each weighing about two tonnes) from the Mohanbari Air Base to among the forward-most areas to enable the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to construct roads all along the India-China border.

"Our job of delivering equipment to the BRO and ration to the people residing in the mountainous regions is extremely challenging. But we all love doing it," said Squadron Leader Jeene Erinjery on board an M-17 helicopter. The IAF has delivered at least 48 bulldozers, each weighing over 12 tonnes, to the forward areas over the past three years.

The choppers have also delivered to the BRO road rollers, trucks, air compressors, and bridging equipment, so much so that BRO engineers now say they are ahead of schedule by at least a year because of the innovative method employed by the air force.

"The underslung operations are most difficult to carry out since the load airlifted comes in all shapes and sizes and most of the helipads are mere clearings on steep hill slopes and pose great difficulty in positioning the load hooked under the helicopter," said a group captain.

Another task that the Eastern Air Command is entrusted with is the training of the fighter pilots. Eastern Air Command is in fact the premier training ground for all of India's fighter pilots. Every new trainee, after being commissioned into the air force, is sent to the east to train at either the Tezpur or the Chabua Air Base where the MiG Operational Training Units or MOFTU are located. The rookies begin learning their basic fighter flying skills.

Despite the frequent accidents with ageing MiGs, everyone in the air force remains upbeat about it. "It's a fallacy to say that the MiGs are flying coffins. These planes remain the best means to train young pilots," says Air Commodore Sudhir Asthana, commander of the Chabua Air Base.

Combining the three tasks keeps the Eastern Air Command busy round-the-clock round the year.

In Vijaynagar, each of the 7,000 people look at the sky, not for rain, but for a plane to fly in from behind the mountains. Its only connection to the outside world is the twice-a-month AN-32 cargo plane operated by the Indian Air Force. Located in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district, Vijainagar, at an altitude of 4,200 feet, is one of the toughest ALG operated by the Indian Air Force.

As the AN-32 slices through the thick cloud to land at the short runway, a motley crowd gathers around the runway badgering the circle officer to get them a seat onto the cargo plane for a ride to Dibrugarh, far away in the Assam plains.

But the circle officer has to go by the procedure laid down. "Patients andgovernment officials get priority when we shortlist the passengers for asortie," said circle officer Waja Poakna, who -- along with few others -- represents the state government in this land where there is no electricity, no telephone, and no bank.

Since the runway is "semi-prepared," the AN-32s cannot carry a payload of more than three tonnes.

"The last time I sent the mailbag was more than a month ago, " postmaster Lohit Sonowal told me in late October. "I am sending them again today as there was no sortie for civilians in between."

The frequency of sorties has come down over the past few years. The state government has to subsidise each civilian passenger, who only pay Rs 676 for a one-way trip whereas the actual cost is much, much more.

There have been instances when many of the 7,000 residents of Vijainagar, which lies at the point where India, China, and Myanmar meet, have had to stay put in Dibrugarh since they could not get a seat on the returning sortie.

And yet, most of them crowd around the plane whenever it lands -- which is totally dependent upon the weather Gods -- in the hope that a seat on the AN-32 would be available.

The alternative is unpalatable and hazardous -- walking for at least seven days to the nearest bus station at Miao.

Peshwa wrote:I have been following the scenarios on this forum for a while now, and have become a huge fan of Shankarda. Can someone please email me the complete file at chinmayp at gmail dot com.

Chinmay Peshwey

Please,Please, Gentle readers every one can read whole of the scenariosHEREuse your clicking abilities,(cause some one said unused organs atrophies with neglect)and clear the bandwidth from your respective begging.There is a war going on.

Squadron leader Jamwal waited for the engine start order from tower .While he did so ,could not but help comparing this bird with his old favorite the Mig 29 .The aviation electronics were of light years ahead .But the biggest advantage what he found in flanker was the additional pair of eyes in the rear seat ,that made combat missions particularly long and complex ones .like to days some what less strenuous .The fly by wire or computerized flight control features he liked in general but not always just like many drivers don’t like auto transmission in a sports car .

The radar was still on standby mode which he will activate only after taxi clearance .The left MFD showed all the gauges like oil pressure, fuel content, hydraulics condition in blue against a black background. The left MFD was for the moment configured for scrolling map display showing the area around the small airbase and the low mountains in the distance .As he clicked on the display changed to planned ingress route in red over the zoomed out moving map display – a more or less convoluted north westerly track Which will allow his flight to cover the Mirage 2000 strike flight 360 degree as they make a low level high speed dash towards Lhasa and beyond along the railroad, taking out the critical tunnels and nodes in one go .

Surprise and speed will be the key to success in this mission. Some attrition Jamwal knew is but inevitable .But once the railroad is in operative it will be extremely different for the PLA to support the army on offensive. Phase 2 of the strike plan will be even more extensive and will involve the road network built up by the Chinese in the Tibetan plateau for that once again he will have to fly shot gun and maybe do some mud slinging himself

- lima romeo flight -tower – standby for engine start - tower – copy that – flight ready for engine start - Lima romeo lead – start motor and confirm –overJamwal leaned forward and signaled ground crew who already had the starter cable attached. The port engine started first with a small burst of black smoke, clearing the exhaust manifold of un- burnt fuel and then quickly picked up revolutions and then the starboard engine. The airframe mild vibration smoothened out with second engine coming to idle power . In the back seat squadron leader Ojha powered up the avionics suite and strarted his post engine start checklist

Jamwal inched the power lever a notch ,retracted the parking break lever and finally clicked the main break off .The flanker moved forward quickly ,nose down and the regained attitude as it gracefully slid off the parking ramp into nearby taxiway .Jamwal drove her carefully along the white centre line ,careful of the heavy wing load at low speed .He adjusted the throttle setting once again and the Rmbha was now moving smoothly forward at 30 km/hour and will take almost 5 minutes to reach the hammerhead .Behind him other five Su-30 MKI s moved out of their respective slots and fell in line .Each one of them checking the control surface movement and the brakes along the way to main runway

T

he Su-30MKI contains not only Russian, French, South African and Israeli Customer Furnished Equipment (CFE), but also a substantial percentage of Indian designed and manufactured avionics. They took six years to develop from start to MKI. Advanced avionics were developed by DRDO under a project code named "Vetrivale" (a Tamil name for the victorious lance carried by the youthful Lord Karthikeya or Murugan, a son of Parvati and Shiva) in close collaboration with the PSUs and the IAF. Indian avionics have been received and acknowledged enthusiastically by the Russian principals.The following are the components developed by Indian agencies: • Mission Computer cum Display Processor - MC-486 and DP-30MK (Defence Avionics Research Establishment - DARE)• Radar Computer - RC1 and RC2 (DARE)• Tarang Mk2 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) + High Accuracy Direction Finding Module (HADF) (DARE• IFF-1410A - Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)• Integrated Communication suite INCOM 1210A (HAL)• Radar Altimeter - RAM-1701 (HAL)• Programmable Signal Processor (PSP) - (LRDE)The 32-bit Mission Computer performs mission-oriented computations, flight management, reconfiguration-cum-redundancy management and in-flight systems self-tests. In compliance with MIL-STD-1521 and 2167A standards, Ada language has been adopted for the mission computer's software. The other DARE-developed product, the Tarang Mk2 (Tranquil) radar warning receiver, is manufactured by state-owned BEL at its Bangalore facility.These avionics equipment have also been certified for their airworthiness in meeting the demanding standards of Russian military aviation. The cumulative value of such indigenous avionic equipment is estimated to exceed Rs. 250 lakhs per aircraft. Since the core avionics were developed by a single agency (DRDO) - they have significant commonality of hardware and software amongst them using a modular approach to design. This obviously results in major cost and time savings in development; it also benefits the user in maintenance and spares inventories.The DRDO has gone a step further and come out with a new design of the Core Avionics Computer (CAC) which can be used with a single module adaptation across many other aircraft platforms. Thus the CAC which is derived from the computers designed for the Su-30MKI will now be the centre piece of the avionics upgrades for the MiG-27 and Jaguar aircraft as well. The CAC was demonstrated by DRDO at the Aero India exhibition at Yelahanka and attracted a good deal of international attention. Taken together with the systems already developed indigenously for the LCA (such as the Digital Flight Control Computer and HUD), clearly Indian avionics have a significant export potential in the burgeoning global market for avionics modernisation.The navigation/weapons systems from the various countries were integrated by Ramenskoye RPKB.

- Lima romeo lead – tower –report to report to eagle eye –who has control –contact frequency ---- Mhz - Copy that tower –contacting eagle eye –over - Eagle eye – lima romeo lead-reporting –over- Lima romeo lead- eagle eye –read you loud and clear –confirm if in take position - Eagle eye –lima romeo flight ready for immediate take off- Lima romeo flight –eagle eye – you are cleared for immediate take – formation take off allowed in pairs –fly runway heading to 5000 mters which is your cruisec altitude for now – turn left to 310 till grid sector alpha lima –over - Copy that eagle eye – climb to 5000 meters –turn right 310 to alpha lima –over The six Su-30 s slowly entered the main runway with Jamwal in the lead. As he scanned the length of the runway after switching on the powerful landing lights located in the undercarriage well, the runway looked clear. A final alignment with runway centre line and then time to power up all the way. The flanker moved forward with a sharp jerk like a wild untamed stallion nosing down in protest and then opened up like a race horse on the home stretch. First the runways unevenness could be felt ,even through the highly cushioned 36K ejection seats but very quickly one bump blended into another as the ground speed picked up along with indicated air speed . The air speed indicated on the left MFD quickly went up and before long the deadly aircraft was in its element,moving effortlessly into the black sky at the expense of about 800kgs of jet fuel .The thrust vectoring nozzles moved down for an instant ,right when the wheels left the tarmac and so did the horizontal stabilizers pitching the nose up and then went back to normal configuration as the flight computer sensed adequate nose up attitude have been achieved . The remained in their take of configuration of 15 degree till the altitude of 1000 meters was achieved and computer decided the extra lift generated by them is no longer required .The flaps went back to normal cruise configuration and the exhaust nozzles started moving independently to come up to the programmed course and altitude .The canards responded smoothly ,providing the opposing moment to those generated by the thrust vectoring nozzles .The flanker executed a perfect turning climb in the air like no other aircraft in the world –not even the F-22 raptor is capable of.

Wing commander Deepika finished checking the targeting pod and data link response from built in health check systems in the mission computer . She also checked one more the oxygen flow in the mask and increased it slightly . The 24 Mirage 2000 S were arranged in 8 seperate flight groups of 3 aircraft each . The total flight will be controlled from the A 50 Bariev PHALCON radar aircraft already on station some where over river Brahmaputra and will move forward across the line of control during actual strike events to accurately coordinate time over target and ingress/egress and also the top cover operation by the flankers .

Deepika had to smile at the chicest explitives from the base commander but that is exactly the way she felt too after hearing about the cowardly strike at Kolkata airport .Now it was time for a payback with interest. The most expensive railroad in the world and an icon of peoples republic of chinas yechnical capability was about to be wiped off the face of the earth

"In February 2002, after a brief stopover, the six French Air Force Mirage 2000D’s reached the international coalition base at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, to take part in operation Enduring Freedom," explained Wing Commander Angel, commanding officer of the 1/3 Navarre Fighter Squadron, during our visit to the Nancy-Ochey air base.US support units were already in place (twelve F-18s from the US Mari¬nes Corps were to arrive in April), and a detach¬ment of French Air Force engineers were repairing the runway. Up to 1,800 servicemen and women were to be stationed at Manas, 1,000 of them Americans and 400 French.Working in total interoperability with the United States, France retained its sovereignty over the use of its forces. The allied CAOC at Al Kharj in Saudi Arabia, operating under US command, allocated 6 sorties a day to the French planes. The CAOC planned the mis¬sions in line with France's rules of engagement, then submitted them for approval to the French commander-in-chief, who checked they complied with the French government's directives before the French planes were tasked. The Mirage 2000Ds first took part in strike missions during operation Ana¬conda, which was designed to eradicate the Taliban, then later provided air sup¬port for ISAF troops and took part in a number of anti-terrorist operations.Afghanistan was a particularly complex theatre of operations, with terrain ele¬vations often higher than 4,000 metres making conventional C-SAR techniques impracticable, and extreme tempera¬tures ranging from -20°C in February to +35° or even 40° in the summer months. In addition, the distance between the base and the targets made fuel management crucial: the Mirages were in the air for at least 51/2 hours and needed to be refuelled four times in flight. And rerouting opportunities in the event of a problem were few and far between.Flight Lieutenant Onselaer, operational utilisation officer on Mirage 2000D, gave us a run-down on the aircraft systems and spoke about the lessons learned from this operation in Afghanistan. The French forces had two types of designation pods available, both from Thales. They mainly used the PDLCT-S, which operates in IR mode and issuitable for both daytime and night-time missions. But they also had the ATLIS system, which operates in TV mode and delivers images of excellent quality during daylight operations and was ideal for certain types of targets and mission profiles. The pods were of course used on strike missions, which is the main role of France's Mirage 2000Ds, but they also made an appre¬ciable contribution to mission success during the critical refuelling phases.As well as demonstrating the high reliability and excellent performance of the aircraft systems under particularly severe operating conditions, the Afghan air campaign highlighted the progress that has been made in terms of datalink capabilities and the coherence of the image chain. For the optronic recon¬naissance tasks that were secondary objectives on certain missions, the imagery sourced by the pod was digitised, interpreted using the MINDS multi-sensor image interpretation and dissemination system, and relayed to central command via the Syracuse satellite system. Chiefs of Staff could "order" images and receive the corresponding photographs just a few hours later.The Afghan experience was also a compelling illustration of the concepts of network-centric warfare: our aircraft took off from Manas in Kyrgyzstan and from the carrier in the North Arabian Sea to strike targets thousands of kilometres away designated by forward air controllers who played a vital role in target identification. The operation was controlled in real time by the CAOC in Al Kharj (2,000 km from the action) and commanded by USCENTCOM in Florida.It became clear from our discussions at Nancy-Ochey just how demanding this kind of strike mission can be for the air¬crews taking part, and how vital it is for them to be on top of their assignments. Their role will take on another new dimension when the SCALP cruise mis¬sile enters service with the French Air Force later this year. Aircrews from 1/3 Navarre Squadron have already begun conversion training at Mont-de-Marsan. The arrival of this new weapon will revolutionise the concept of deep strike capability.

Air commodore Bhasin looked at the master tactical plot projected on the large LCD display in colour.The six sukhois have taken off and now topping up their tanks form an IL-78 MKI over the river Brahmaputra just south of air force station Tezpur . The Mirages are rolling into take off position at Tezpur and should all be in air in a matter minutes . The twelve on board monitoring stations were all assigned a specific task and the priority at the moment was to locate all the live and dormant radar emitters along the ingress path of the strike flight before they actually cross the line of actual control . The need to be located and neutralized quickly before the actual ingress take place and the flankers were waiting for the air defense ground environment picture before launching their long range air to surface anti radiation missiles .

The whole plan hinged on punching a hole in the Chinese air defense network quickly, diverting away their combat air patrol and pushing the strike fleet of mirages through the gap which will be then created. All a matter of co ordination and synchronization

To do that he needed a decoy fleet .Which was ready somewhere in the north eastern air space but did have no idea about the objective of their mission or how risky it may turn out to be . Bhasin decided to launch the decoys

IAF STATION CHABUA – DIRTY DONKY FLIGHT – 12 X MIG 27 -0249 hrs

- Dirty donkey lead –eagle eye – you are cleared for immediate take off –fly runway heading and execute mission Peking duck –now over Wing commander Nitesh checked his watch and checked his flight all in single line formation along the taxi way. All of them were loaded with 57 mm rockets and full load of ammo for the devastating Gsh 30-6 multi barrel cannon capable ripping open a main battle tank with just a couple of rounds and all equipped with synthetic aperture radar . Their mission today was to take out a PLA armor cum air base just across the line of actual control 350 km east of Tezpur . It was planned to be a quick in ,quick out type mission with medium altitude subsonic ingress and high altitude egress at maximum speed .

He did not know his flight will also act as a potent decoy for the PLAAF combat air patrol ( supersonic bait) and also force the Chinese to light up all their dormant air search radars along the line of actual control as he and his flight makes a convoluted approach to the target zone

- eagle eye –delta delta flight – rolling now Nitesh checked his flap setting one last time ,engine rpm and exhaust temperature ,tightened the straps of his ejection seat needlessly and advanced the power lever all the way forward to full reheat . The Mig 27 obeyed dutifully as she accelerated like a high velocity bullet covering the 2500 meter runway in seconds and rotated her nose sky wards slowly in a thunderous roar . Nitesh slapped the undercarriage lever up and the heavy duty wheels came up smoothly into the well and the speed picked up quickly for him to allow flap setting to be changed to 45degree for normal cruise to the first waypoint.

The 12 Mig 27s flew over the silvery Brahmaputra at pre assigned altitude of 3500 meters till the area defense coverage area of IAF station Tezpur ,turned right and without a check flew into the controlled air space along line of actual control and into china occupied Tibet

- delta delta –eagle eye –we see SA3 site with possible four launchers – 035 – 20 kms –shall appreciate doing the needful ,Bhasin was at his polite best - roger that sir –replied Nitesh as checked out the synthetic aperture image display now on area mode which he quickly changed to spot light mode and the ghostly green black image of the surface to air missile battery filled the screen

Wing commander Nitesh loved nothing more than using his rockets on an un suspecting enemy . As he banked the Mig to right ,his thumb flicked open the fire switch protective cover and the weapon display showed he has a full load of 57 mm rockets . As he aligned the cross hair onto the radar vehicle the distance to target was less than 6 km s , a small flash on the screen indicated he has been acquired too a the fisrt missile the sioze of a telephone pole was on its way . The target cirsor changed color to red and shoot prompt came up on the screen .Nitesh pressed the fire button and a salvo of four 57 mm rockets hissed out of the port side pod obliterating the control van and its antenna in a bright orange flash ,another squeeze on the fire button and the distant launcher with three live missiles on it went up in smoke . His wing man managed to hit another launcher and then they were past the target .

Air commodore Bhasin was a happy man ,a very tense happy man would be more correct definition of his present state of mind . The short strike along the line of control had the desired effect . All the four Su 30 MKM were now changed course and trying to intercept the intruding Mig 27 s and with the taking out of the known SAM station the secondary radars both static and mobile along the line of actual control have started coming up ,lighting up the master tactical display like a Christmas tree . There were six radar stations along the ingress route to Lhasa and he nodded to the young squadron leader responsible for networking with the flanker fleet . The target data acquired by the phased array L band conformal radars and other associated sensors were quickly transmitted to the flanker lead flight via a high speed high bandwidth data link .Within 3 minutes the flanker flight had all that it needed to launch the air to surface missiles

One by one the they started launching their long range anti radiation missiles ,and one by one the red lights on the master tactical display started blinking out . Within 5 minutes a black safe passage was marked out on the master plot . For atleast one hour the Tibet airspace up to Lhasa was vulnerable . It was time to give the mirages the green signal

Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) developed its Phalcon system for Israeli defence forces and for export. Airborne Early Warning, Command and Control (AEWC&C) systems play a major role on the modern battlefield by providing real-time intelligence and command and control needed to achieve and maintain air superiority over the combat area and to enable surveillance of borders in peacetime. The world's most advanced AEWC&C system, the PHALCON, was developed and produced by ELTA using Active Phased Array Electronic Scanning Technology rather than a mechanically rotating antenna (rotodome) used by current AWACS systems, giving PHALCON greater operational flexibility and performance by several orders of magnitude. The Phalcon AEW&C aircraft is based on four sensors: phased-array radar, phased-array IFF, ESM/ELINT and CSM/COMINT. A unique fusion technology continuously cross-relates the data gathered by all sensors. When one of the sensors reports detection, the system automatically initiates an active search of the complementary sensors. • The AWE&C phased array radar replaces the conventional rotodome radar. It is mounted either on the aircraft fuselage or on top of the aircraft inside a stationary dome, providing full 360° coverage. This electronically steered beam radar delivers a tremendous advantage over mechanical rotating antenna, as it supports the tracking a high maneuvering targets. The radar can detect even low flying objects from distances of hundreds of kilometers, day and night, under all weather conditions. Verification beams sent at specific, individual, newly detected targets eliminate false alarms. Moreover, track initiation is achieved in 2 to 4 seconds as compared to 20 to 40 seconds with a rotodome radar • The IFF system employs solid state phased array technology to perform interrogation, decoding, target detection and tracking. A monopulse technique is used to implement azimuth measurement. The IFF data is automatically correlated with the phased array radar. • The ESM/ELINT system receives, analyzes and locates radar signals, covering 360o. It combines high sensitivity with high probability of intercept, and achieves excellent accuracy in bearing measurement. The system uses narrow-band super-heterodyne receivers and wide-band instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) techniques to provide very high accuracy and probability of intercept of airborne and surface emitters. Very high bearing accuracy for all received signals is achieved through Differential Time of Arrival (DTOA) measurements. The system also collects and analyzes ELINT data. • The PHALCON's CSM/COMINT receives in UHF, VHF and HF, rapidly searching for airborne, shipborne or ground communications signals of interest. Selected radio nets can be monitored for signal activity. A DF capability locates targets. Detected signals can be assigned to monitoring receivers instantaneously. The system makes extensive use of computers to reduce the load on operators.

Why cant they get someone like Shankarda or Vivek Ahuja to write screenplays for Indian War movies. I just saw LoC Kargil. It was terrible. They are so incompetent, they almost end up insulting the sacrifices made by our soldiers.

Wing commander Deepika moved the throttle lever forward gently as she eased the heavy laden aircraft into the main runway. Today she will be using the entire 10000 ft length to take off. She could feel the load of the X bomb by the dampened movement of the aircraft over the moisture soaked uneven runway surface. The runway lights came on cue and she switched on her navigation lights on and off to signal her team mates her intention of full power take off.

One last check –runway clear of obstruction – hydraulics ok- fuel pressure ok-engine temperature ok- exhaust temperature normal – weapon stations un armed and on standby –flaps on take of position 15 degree –parking break off –Deepika moved the throttle all the way forward . The engine responded immediately and the sleek bird started its take off roll without hesitation .She counted six ,looked at the air speed indicator 40 knots and pushed the throttle all the way past reheat gate .The engines responded once again as expected with a sharp mule like kick to her back as raw jet fuel sprayed on the hot exhaust ,increasing the exhaust gas temperature and volume generating 30% more thrust .The air speed climbed to 110 knots .The wings started feeling the lift and the control surfaces came alive making the aircraft more and more responsive to her slightest command . 140 knots and the the bird was trying to lift herself form the runway and had to be kept down by Deepika’s express wish and command through the stick .The wings straightened out and flexed upwards .160 knots she pulled back ,pitching the nose into a gentle climb .The nose wheel lifted up quickly followed by the main wheels and the mirage clawed into the dark sky ,supported by a pillar of flame almost 18 ft long . The altimeter display started changing quickly and was 2500 ft as crossed the low cloud bank and initiated a slow bank to port , eased the throttle gently back into full military power position and the long fiery tail disappeared being replaced by a bright orange glow

As she entered the new course the computer below her ejection seat did the rest .The mirage tipped her wings and approached the navigation lights of the distant IL-78MKI tanker making endless series of figure eights in the sky over majestic Brahmaputra jus t over the historic city of Nawgong .

The "celestial railway" as it has been dubbed in China, opened on July 1 and carries passengers between Golmud and Lhasa, meaning it is now possible to travel by train from Beijing to the Tibetan capital in about 48 hours. It realises a 50-year ambition by the Chinese authorities to build a 2,000km (1,200m) rail link across the inhospitable permafrost of the Tibetan plateau.

Having overcome extraordinary engineering challenges, it is now the highest passenger railway in the world with some stretches above 5,000m (16,400ft). But it is also the world's most controversial railway as it has become a high-profile symbol of China's determination to push forward with its "go-west programme" to increase transport, cultural and economic links into the underdeveloped western regions of the country. The Office of Tibet, the "official agency of HH Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile", has condemned the railway, saying it will flood Tibet with Chinese entrepreneurs, greatly strengthen China's military hand in this strategically important area, and allow exploitation of its rich mineral resources.

The very act of visiting Tibet as a tourist has been controversial ever since the People's Liberation Army first entered it in 1950, as travelling there could be seen as supporting China's actions. But in recent years the exiled Tibetan government has seemingly endorsed trips as long as great efforts are made by tourists to use the services of Tibetan businesses instead of those run by the Han Chinese who have been encouraged to settle there.

In July, the Free Tibet Campaign (freetibet.org) called for a tourist boycott of the railway. In particular, it urged tourists not to use the services of three UK travel agencies, including GW Travel. It suggests, instead, using The Himalayan Adventure Company (thehimalayanadventurecompany.com), which "does not promote the railway". There are other land-based alternatives, albeit arduous, such as entry via Nepal.

Sir jee.instead of mailing the scenarios to everybody one by one, you can upload the files at some file sharing site like rapidshare, mediafire, uploading dot it and many more.(except for megashare)Whoever wants those files can download them himself .If you want I can upload them. My id is jjamwal at gmail dot com.

Squadron leader Jamwal ttried to strech in the limited confines of his ejection seat .So far so good the known sam sites have been taken off but unknown mobile ones were more dangerous . The radio crackled to life

Jamwal blinked his navigation light twice ,signaling his wing man the intention to go full reheat and also stay radio silent from now on and most importantly no active radar till within heat seeking missile range . With total trust in the air battle commander on board the Phalcon and the active data link which periodically updated his tactical picture ,he went for the kill remorselessly

As the after burners on twin AL 31 engines kicked effortlessly propelling the Indian flanker past supersonic regime Jamwal approached the Chinese flankers from their blind angle up and behind .With no radar emission whatsoever the PLAAF pilots got no warning of the impending death .They were intent on taking out the fast moving Indian Mig 27 s streaking low over the mountain tops taking out the ground defense and arty bases with unchecked regular rhythm. They did not even know when the games have turned upside down.

His right hand flashed forward and selected the R-73 stations on the outer most pylons ,he selected and armed up all four of them ,right hand back on stick and fire button protective cover flicked open ,it was time to activate the powerful radar ,a press on the radar console and the indicator LCD changed from green to red ,confirming the Bars was now on full power transmission mode ,the radar console came alive and the four PLAAF sukhois were clearly marked with individual tag numbers .They immediately became aware of hostile radar ,being warned by their own tail mounted radar warning receivers And started their turn inwards .

But it was too little effort and too late .The range to target was less than 25 km and Jamwal did not even think of hesitating as he squeezed off the first salvo of air to air missiles . The fire computer checked the distance and angle of approach and assigned missile priority . The upgraded R-73 covered the distance in a flash and the first PLAAF Su-30 lost its starboard engine and the wing carrying it even before he could line up for a shot .As the first PLAAF Su 30 went down cart wheeling ,the second Chinese Sukhoi launched its own missile and then the second of Jamwals missile hit him right on the canopy ,blowing it up in a bright orange flush . Jamwal pulled up and away and then put the flanker on a spiraling downward roll and the automated flare dispenser did the rest .The third PLAAF pilot made an avoidable mistake he tried to engage the Jamwals flanker in a turning dog fight by going to full afterburner and arrowing down after him in a matching spiral . Jamwal broke radio silence and called for help

- lima romeo 2 –lead –take the damn slit eye off my tail - with pleasure lead break right on my count -3 2 1 now - Jamwal deployed the airbrake for a moment and turned to starboard almost in right angles to his projected track and the Chinese pilot overshot and had to level out to avoid hitting the mountains not far below. Jamwal’s wing man was waiting for this and launched a single R-73 almost up the tail of the Chinese flanker which exploded like a 250 kg high explosive bomb ,showering the barren mountain tops with burning metal

The last Chinese flanker had enough and broke homewards lighting up his afterburner and Jamwal waited .As the young Chinese pilot crossed his nose he let go with a short burst from his Gsh 30 1 .The young pilot of PLAAF died young over a land and mountain he never liked and never knew .